Highlights of the financial year, 2011

1. Annual Report 2011
7-9 North St David Street Edinburgh
United Kingdom EH2 1AW
Tel: +44(0)131 524 9640
Web: www.upperquartile.co.uk

2. Background
Upper Quartile is an international management and economic development consultancy based in Edinburgh. We
specialise in providing creative advice in the most challenging business and economic environments. All of our partners
are experienced international development and management professionals who have worked at senior levels in the
public and private sectors.
Our clients include international NGOs, the UN, government agencies and global companies. Our scope of work
embraces economic reconstruction in hostile regions, advice on economic development and reform, and business
strategy and benchmarking. We also continue to work with a wide range of companies and government agencies in
our home market in the UK.
The common theme is our ability to deliver clear, pragmatic solutions to problems that are complex, highly uncertain
and, occasionally, chaotic. We have three main areas of expertise:
Post-conflict Economic Development Business Strategy
Reconstruction & Reform
We provide strategic business
We continue to advise an We offer advice on overall corporate
planning advice to multiple
expanding range of Governments, strategy, research and analysis,
clients focussed on driving business
international and private companies project design and evaluation. All
growth. Much of this advice
on strategic development, project our partners have at least 25 years
focuses on investment by
design, FDI and trade promotion, working at senior levels in economic
multi-nationals in transitional and
and monitoring and evaluation in development and understand the
fragile economies
fragile and post conflict states unique challenges and
accountabilities of organisations in
this area. Our work has included
monitoring and evaluation, strategic
development, project design, FDI
and trade promotion
Our Partners and senior staff are accustomed to working alongside the military, to coping with uncomfortable working
conditions and to supporting national and regional governments to build their own skills. As conflict-affected
economies recover, livelihoods, trade and investment opportunities begin to develop. With our local knowledge and
network of contacts, we are able to advise small companies and global companies on doing business in these economies
and are currently working with Business Development Service (BDS) providers as well as energy, logistics and
engineering companies.
You can find out more about Upper Quartile by visiting our website at www.upperquartile.co.uk
Upper Quartile Annual Report 2011

3. Where we work
CROATIA
Removal of immigration
barriers for international
staff for FDI
UK
Management of European Social
Funds – Rural Training and
KOSOVO
development Support to IPAK in
Development of commercial income business planning
streams for British Universities
Business and Social Enterprise LIBYA
Development SERBIA
Institutional Assessment
Development of
of GPCETI and supporting
Industrial Parks /
agencies
Business Zones in
southern Serbia
JORDAN KUWAIT
Preparation of an Investors Conference
economic development
plan for the Aqaba
Economic Free Zone
MONTSERRAT
Support for the Trade and
Investment Promotion
Agency
TRINIDAD
Change management in
the Trade and Investment
Promotion Organisation CHINA
Economic impact analysis
of EU / China Executive
ST HELENA training programme
Chief Economist and
IRAQ
Economic Development
Support GAMBIA Upper Quartile is a 50% owner of NORTH KOREA
the Iraq Business News
Review of investment Assessment of
Preparation of Investment Policy
opportunities for bulk international trade
for Iraq
breaking of sea / air cargo integration opportunities
Business Regulation and Business
Environment improved
TANZANIA PAPUA NEW
Senior Civil Servant skills GUINEA
development programme AFGHANISTAN Capacity building for
Provision of technical support for senior Government
DFID alternate livelihoods officials in advance of
programme Economic Partnership
Agricultural Value Chain analysis for Agreement negotiations
MAIL (CARD F programme) with European
Counter Narcotics review in Helmand Commission
Upper Quartile Annual Report 2011

4. Our Clients
Upper Quartile Annual Report 2011

5. Our Growth
Our People
Upper Quartile Annual Report 2011